Istanbul, March 15 () - Unemployment rate hit its highest level since Feb. 2015 when it saw 11.2 percent, and reached 10.8 percent in the period of Dec., including Nov., Dec. and Jan.

According to Labour Force Statistics released by the Turkstat on March 15, number of unemployed persons aged 15 years old and over increased to 3 million 204 thousand persons by 59 thousand persons comparing to the same period of last year.

Unemployment rate fell to 10.8 percent by 0.1 percentage point on annul basis, while increasing by 0.3 percentage points on periodical basis. Non-agricultural unemployment rate stood at 12.7 percent, 0.2 percentage points lower on annual, but 0.3 percehtage points higher on periodical basis.

Youth unemployment rate including 15-24 age group was 19.2 percent

According to the data, the youth unemployment rate including 15-24 age group was 19.2 percent, and the unemployment rate for 15-64 age group occurred as 11 percent.

Turkstat data also showed that number of employed persons aged 15 years old and over increased to 26 million 448 thousand persons by 806 thousand persons in the period of December 2015 compared to the same period of the previous year. Employment rate occured as 45.4 percent with 0.7 percentage points increase.

Of those who were employed in this period; 18.9 percent was employed in agriculture, 20.1 percent was employed in industry, 7.1 percent was employed in construction and 53.9 percent was employed in services.

Employment in services increased by 1.1 percentage point while that of agriculture dropped by 0.6 percentage point. Industry decreased by 0.5 percentage point, and the construction sector was constant compared to the same period of the previous year.

Labour force participation rate realized as 50.9 percent

Labour force increased by 865 thousand persons to 29 million 652 thousand persons in the period of December 2015 compared to the same period of the previous year, while labour force participation rate (LFPR) was 50.9 percent with 0.7 percentage point increase.

The ratio of persons who worked without any social security related to the main job fell by 1.1 percentage point to 32.1 percent in the period of December 2015 compared to the same period of the previous year.

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